The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1887-07-18
INDIANA ANDILLINOIS NEWS
Interesting Facts Concerning the Wise
Will Case Now on Trial at Sullivan.
Indianapolis Burglar Captured at Franklin
Stabbing ARRAY at Ashboro-Death Of
]. s. Dixon, from Over-Exertion.


History Of the Most Important Will Case
Ever Tried in the State.
Special to the indianapolis JournsL
SULLIVAN, July 1.-THE few short accounts
appearing from day to day concerning the trial
of the will case at this point may not have con-
veyed the impression that it is one of the most
important civil suits tried in the State of
Indiana, and the most important Will contest
The suit is brought to break the will of the late
William J. Wise, OF Vincennes, who was long
and Familiarity known the merchant king Of
the Wabash, being engaged in active business
from the time Indiana was admitted as q State,
in 1916, up to the time of his death in January,
1884 By lis last will he leaves
his entire estate, valued at about 5000 00O mis-
three neces. Mrs W. R. Miles, Mrs. F. NJ. Fay,
and Mrs. r. L. Ryder. Since his death. the
two latter have died. and by the terms o. the
will the property goes in its entirety to their
children-this being as far as he could entail it
under the laws of the land. There two
charges in the complaint first, that the testator
was Of unsound mind-which they endeavor to
prove by many eccentric acts Of the old man.
that undue influence used, Mr.. Wise having
lived for the last eighteen twenty years of his
life with the family of W. r. Miles, although it
appears he went there of his own choice.
Many ludicrous incidents were brought ont in
evidence to show the old mans peculiarities.
A prominent business man OF Vincennes
brought on to establish the fact that he talked
to himself. He asked by the attorney if he
ever noticed anything of that sort, and answered
"no;" but after little hesitation. during which
disappointment clearly depicted the
counsel's face, '.yes." he said. 81 did once" He
was promptly asked when and answered.:
"Once when he was driving nail and accident
ally struck his thumb with the Ratchet" 1t
brought down the house.
The case is running now in the seventh week
of its trial It will probably go to the jury
some time this week. The arguments of Sena-
tor Ben Harrison, Judge W. r. Gardiner, Capt
@. G. Reilly and Mr.. s. N. Chambers were said
by competent judges to be four as able efforts as
were ever made in civil case in Indiana
The plaintiffs in the suit all prominent
Vlncennes people. Mr.. r. j. Mckinney, late of
the banking firm of r. J. Mckinney & Co, oc-
cupies peculiar position. having accepted the
appointments as administrator of the estate.
sworn to uphold the will, while his wife is of
the parties trying to break it. It has resulted in
several embarrassing situations to the gentle
man. and is the only of the kind on record.
OF the defendants, Mr. Ryder is a prominent
official on the Monon railroad. and Messrs Fay
and Mills were both at one time prominent rail
road men, though they have now retired from
active business pursuits
The result of the case will be watched with
interest by the entire bar of the State. In the
former trial at Vincennes. two years since,
brought by different set of heirs, it will be
mem bered the defendants were victorious.